The National Calendar of India is based on the Saka calendar, which is used as the country's official civil calendar. The Saka Samvat, a historic Hindu calendar that was eventually established as the 'Indian National Calendar' in 1957, began during the Saka Era. The Saka Era is thought to have been founded by King Shalivanhana of the Shatavahana dynasty. The Saka calendar has 365 days and 12 months, similar to the structure of the Gregorian Calendar. Chaitra, the first month of the Saka Samvat, begins on March 22, which corresponds to March 21 during the leap year. This article will explain to you the concepts related to the National calendar of India Which will be helpful in Indian Art and Culture preparation for the UPSC Civil service exam.

National Calendar of India

• The National Calendar of India is based on the Saka calendar, which is used as the country's official civil calendar.
• It is used in news broadcasts by All India Radio, calendars, and communication papers released under the jurisdiction of the Government of India, as well as by publication in the Official Gazette.
• Saka Samvat was the original name of the Saka calendar, which is a Hindu calendar.
• In the Hindu religion, it is also used to calculate days of holy significance.

National calendar of India - Saka Samvad

National Calendar of India - Significance

• The Calendar Reforms Committee set up by the Government of India adopted the Saka calendar as the National Calendar in 1957.
• After correcting some local mistakes, the Committee worked to align the astronomical data and unify the use of this calendar.
• According to the Gregorian calendar, it was first used on March 22, 1957, while according to the Saka Samvat, it was first used on Chaitra 1, 1879.
• It was chosen as India's National Calendar to harmonize the use of 30 various types of calendars in the country at the time.
• It is a Julian calendar era that corresponds to the year 78.
• It's also known as the Mahasakkarat Era or Shalivahana Saka Era.
• The Saka era commemorates King Shalivahana's major military victories.
• The Kannada work Udbhatakavya by Somaraja provided the earliest evidence of a connection between King Shalivahana and the Saka era.
• Indonesian Hindus in Bali and Java utilize the Saka calendar as well.
• This calendar is used in conjunction with the Gregorian Calendar by the Indian Gazette.

Months of National Calendar of India

Types of Calendar in India

• The word Calendar comes from the Roman word Calends or Kalends, which refers to a method of dividing time into specific periods for the sake of civic life.
• A country's national calendar has a deep connection to its historical period and contains a golden period within it.
  • There are four types of calendars used in India.
  • Vikram Samvat
  • Saka Samvat
  • Hijri calendar
  • Gregorian calendar

Vikram Samvat

• The Vikram era began 56 years before the Christian era, in around 56 BC, and is still in effect in almost all of India except the Bengal region.
• According to historians, King Vikramaditya of Ujjain established this era to commemorate his victory over the Saka rulers.
• Many historians believe that Vikram Samvat was established by the Malawa Ganarajya and thus known as the Malawa Gana era and that it was named after Chandragupta Vikramaditya when he conquered Malwa around 400 AD.
• It is a lunar calendar based on the Hindu calendar of ancient times.
• The same calendar system was known by other names before the 9th century, such as Krita and Malava.
• The solar Gregorian calendar is 56.7 years ahead of the Calendar.
• The new year begins on the first day following the new moon in the month of Chaitra, which corresponds to March–April in the Gregorian calendar.
• It begins in mid-April in Nepal and marks the start of the solar new year.
• Chaitra, Vaisakha, Jyeshtha, Ashadha, Sravana, Bhadrapada, Asvina, Kartika, Margasirhsa, Pausha, Magha, and Phalguna are the 12 months.
• The Vikram era begins with Kartika as the first year in most parts of Indian territory.
• Each month is divided into two halves (fortnights) – the bright and dark halves.
• To compensate for the 11-day difference with the solar year, Vikram samvat has 13 months after a cycle of every 3 years and every 5 years, with an extra month added known as Adhik Masa.
• Vikram Samvat's zero years is 56 BC.

Saka Samvat

• In 78 AD, King Shalivahan instituted this calendar form. It was also known as the Saka era because Shalivahan belonged to this tribe.
• Historians are divided on whether Shalivahan was Saka himself or a conqueror of Sakas.
• The Saka Calendar is both solar and lunar, with lunar months and a solar year, and it has the same number of months as the Vikram epoch did. However, the months begin at different times in this country.
• Its year zero begins near the 78th vernal equinox.
• The Saka Calendar begins on March 22nd every year, except in Gregorian leap years, when it begins on March 21st.
• The Saka calendar has a fixed number of days in each month. The names of the months in both calendars, however, are the same.
• Chaitra is the first month of the Saka calendar, followed by Vaisakha, Jyeshtha, Ashadha, Shravana, Bhadrapada, Ashwina, Kartika, Margshisha, Pausha, Magha, and Phalguna. A saka year is made up of 365 days.

Hijri Calendar

• This calendar was created in Arabic.
• Previously known as Amulfil, the term Hijri or hejira was coined after the death of Prophet Mohammed to commemorate his hijrah, or journey from Mecca to Madina, which occurred in the 52nd year of his life, in 622 A.D. This year was designated as the Hijri era's zero yea.
• This calendar has a lunar year that is divided into 12 months and has 354 days in a year.
• In this calendar, the day begins with a sunset.
• During the reign of the Muslim rulers in India, this calendar was adopted.
• The 12 months of the Hijri era are as follows:
  • Muharram – the first month, during which no business or travel is permitted.
  • Safar – useful for travel, business, and combat.
  • Rabi-al-Awwal – the beginning of spring.
  • Rabi-ath-Thani – denotes the end of spring.
  • Jumada-al-ula – the start of the cold season.
  • Jumada al-akhirah – the end of the cold season.
  • Rajab – prepare the fields for fencing.
  • Shaban - It is the harvesting month.
  • Ramadan – the ninth month of the year, when people fast to purify their souls.
  • Shawwal - is a month for going hunting.
  • Dhu-al-Qadah – month for preparing the camels for travel.
  • Dhu-al-Hijjah - It is the last month, dedicated to pilgrimage.
  • Four of the twelve months are considered sacred: the first, seventh, eleventh, and twelfth.
• Because the difference between the solar year and the lunar year is not adjusted under the Hijri calendar, the months are completely lunar and occur in such a sequence that there is no relation whatsoever to the cycle of the seasons of the solar year.
• As a result, it is one year behind the Gregorian calendar, which is based on the solar year, every 33 years.
• Many Muslim countries use it to timestamp events at the same time as the Gregorian calendar.
• This calendar is used by Muslims all across the world to determine the right days to observe Ramadan, perform Hajj, and celebrate other Islamic festivals.

Gregorian Calendar

• This calendar is based on the birthday of Christianity's founder, Jesus Christ.
• In October 1582, the Gregorian calendar, which was devised as a corrective to the Julian Calendar, was implemented.
• This calendar is the most widely used in the world, and it is named after Pope Gregory XIII.
• The Earth's cycle around the Sun is calculated using this calendar, which adds leap years to make the average year 365.2425 days long.
• The civil calendar is based on the Gregorian calendar.
• It was first used in 1582.
• It replaced the earlier Julian calendar because the Julian calendar had a leap year calculation error. There were 365.25 days in the Julian year.
• It is a solar year that begins on January 1st and lasts 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 46 seconds.
• Because these extra hours could not be included in the calendar for a year, the device of intercalation was used, and the system of adding one day to February every four years became popular.
• A civil year is a year defined by this calendar form.

Conclusion

The Indian National Calendar is based on the Saka Calendar, which is used as the official civil calendar in addition to the Gregorian Calendar. It is one of India's national symbols. The dates of the National Calendar and the dates of the Gregorian Calendar are inextricably linked. Along with the Gregorian Calendar, this calendar was established on March 22, 1957.